Why Central Library Matters
Downtown Regina is at an important point in its evolution, as the community works to strengthen the city centre and create more reasons for people to live, work, visit, and spend time there.
A modern downtown library will not solve every downtown challenge. No single project can do that.
But downtowns become stronger when they have destinations, services, cultural spaces, public gathering places, housing, workplaces, and reasons for people to spend time there.
Regina’s Central Library already has more than 400,000 visits each year, generating steady activity that supports nearby businesses and brings people into the city centre.
As downtown evolves, its success increasingly depends on destinations, services, and public spaces that attract people throughout the day and into the evening.
Central Library staff already work closely with community partners and use a range of safety and security measures to support customers, staff, and visitors. A renewed facility can build on those efforts with a design that better supports visibility, accessibility, and safe use of the space.
A new Central Library will support a downtown that is more active, inclusive, welcoming, and connected. It will also serve residents across Regina as the community’s library and the hub of the city-wide library system.
Central Library is a valuable investment.
According to the Federation of Ontario Public Libraries, data from major urban library systems demonstrates that one open hour at a flagship branch can generate over $2,500 in tangible civic benefits against a fraction of that cost in basic staff and utility overhead.
Capital investment into a Central Library act as a primary economic engine for an entire city-wide library system, yielding a highly concentrated financial return.
For example, Saskatoon’s new central library is expected to drive Saskatoon’s library system’s overall return on investment to $6 in community value for every $1 invested.
Construction of Saskatoon’s Central Library is estimated to add $132 million to Canada’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) during its construction phase alone, while generating over 1,000 full-time equivalent jobs.
$2,500 benefit per open hour
$6 community value per $1 invested
Over 1,000 full-time equivalent jobs
A new Central Library is an investment in Regina’s future.